Support



Sept. 24, 1957 Filed March 11, 1954 J. c. CAVANAUGH 2,807,028

SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

INVENTOR.

JOSEPH t. CAVANAUGH BY RIC/4E); WATS, E EERWIVQNQWENNY ATTORNEYS P 1957 J. c. CAVANAUGH 2,807,028

- SUPPORT Filed March 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSEPH C. C'AVA/VAUGH ATTORA EYS United States Patent 6 SUPPORT Joseph C. Cavanaugh, Ottumwa, Iowa Application March 11, 1954, Serial No. 415,488

2 Claims. (Cl. 4-185) This invention relates to supports and more particularly to a bath support for infants that is well adapted to fit on the normal sink and drain board found as a standard fixture in homes.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a folding support adapted to rest on a surface having zones of different heights.

Another object of this invention is to provide support for infants which is adapted for use on the drain board and sink found in homes.

It is another object of this invention to provide a folding support which is adapted for use in connection with the normal sink and drain board.

It is still another object to provide a folding support which is easily manufactured and is simple to use.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the following description and drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a support according to this invention shown as it would be positioned on a normal sink and drain board of the type found in most homes;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the support according to this invention showing the leg structure of the legs which are adapted to extend down into the sink;

Fig. 3 is an end view showing the structure of the legs adapted to be positioned on the drain board; and,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a support according to this invention showing the position of the element when the support is folded for storage.

A bath support according to this invention comprising a frame fabricated from rod material and a flexible sheet mounted on the frame. The frame is formed of two continuous lengths of rod having a straight central portion and depending leg portions at each end thereof. The legs extend substantially at 90 from the central portion with one of the legs having a length exceeding the length of the other leg portion. The two longer legs are pivoted together at substantially their midpoint for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the central portions. The other leg portions have an axial extent less than the distance between the central portions and pivot. The flexible sheet is mounted to extend between the central portions. A locking bar is pivoted at substantially the midpoint of one of the short leg portions and is formed with a hook means adapted to connect to the other short leg portion at substantially its midpoint.

For a clear understanding of this invention, reference should be made to the drawings wherein, the frame is formed of two continuous pieces of metallic rod preferably a metal which has stainless properties. Each of the rods of the frame is formed with a central portion 11 and depending legs 12 and 13 at either end of the central portion. One of the depending legs 12 has a length exceeding the length of the other leg so that it will extend down into the sink 14 and rest on the bottom thereof while the other shorter leg 13 can engage the drain board 16. The length of the legs should be such that the central portion 11 is substantially horizontal when the frame is Patented Sept. 24, 1957 set on a sink and drain board as shown in Fig. 1. The flexible sheet 17 preferably formed of a water-repellant fabric material is mounted on the central portions of the frame 10. This mounting is accomplished by forming a hem 18 along the edge of the flexible sheet 17 through which the central portions 11 are inserted.

The long legs 12 are pivoted to each other as at 19 at approximately their midpoints as shown best in Fig. 2 so that they may rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the central portions 11. A locking bar 21 is pivoted to one of the short legs 13 at approximately its midpoint as at 22 for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the central portions 11. A locking bar 21 is formed with a hook 23 at its other end which is adapted to engage the locking pin 24 mounted at the midpoint of the other short leg. The rubber suction cups 26 are preferably mounted on the ends of all the legs to reduce slippage on and marring of the sink and drain board surface.

It is preferable to form the legs so that the flexible surface tips slightly downward to facilitate draining water.

It is apparent that the user of a support according to this invention may merely place it on the sink and drain board by spreading the legs from the folding position shown in Fig. 4 and hooking the locking bar in place. After these simple operations, the support is ready for use. Again to fold the support for storage purposes, it is merely necessary to reverse the operation.

The proportions of the frame and of the flexible sheet should be such that the legs are at an angle relative to the horizontal which will insure that the flexible sheet will be relatively taut when the support is used. In most cases the legs will be proportioned for the standard size sink and drain board found in most homes. However, it may be desirable to provide adjustable legs on one end or the other so that the support may be used in connection with non-standard sinks and drain boards.

By pivoting the long legs 12 at substantially their midsection, it is apparent that a very sturdy, stable structure is provided which does not tend to tip over easily. Also, because the locking bar is attached to the short legs 13 at substantially their midpoints, the effect is substantially the same as the cross pivots of the long legs. Any vertical forces resulting from weight placed on the flexible sheet will result in components of forces in horizontal direction so that the flexible sheet will remain taut at all times. Again, since the pivots on both ends are at the midpoints of the legs, these horizontal components of forces will have substantially the same relationship to the vertical components at both ends.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated, it will be realized that various modifications of the structural details may be made without departing from the mode of operation and the essence of the invention. Therefore, except insofar as they are claimed in the appended claims, structural details may be varied widely without modifying the mode of operation. Accordingly, the appended claims and not the aforesaid detailed description are determinative of the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A support for use with a sink and drainboard, said support comprising a foldable frame and a flexible sheet, said frame including two similar continuous lengths of rod each formed with a straight central portion and parallel depending leg portions at each end thereof, said depending leg portions extending at an angle of approximately to the central portion, one of said leg portions on each rod having a length exceeding the length of the other leg portion, the longer of said leg portions being pivoted together substantially at the midpoints thereof, said other leg portions each having a length less than the distance from said central portion to the pivotal conof said longer leg portions, releasable means to connect said shorter leg portions together, said sheet being mounted to extend between said central portions, said portion: being proportioned and arranged sothat said sheet is substantially horizontal when said suppimlig and said longer leg portions are resting bottom ofa sink and said other leg portions are on a drainboard at a level above the level of the bottom of the sink.

,2. A support for use with a sink, and drainboard, said more a foldable frame and a flexible sheet, said frame including two similar continuous lengths of M each formed with a straight central portion and plane! depending leg portions at each end thereof, said depending leg portions extending at an angle of approximately 90 to the central portion, one of said leg poron each rod having a length exceeding the length the other leg portion, the longer of said leg portions pivoted together substantially at the midpoints thereflid other leg portions each having a length less than distance from said central portion to the pivotal connection of said longer leg portions, releasable means to connect said shorter leg portions together, said sheet being mounted to extend between said central portions and to limit separation thereof by relative pivotal movement of said longer leg portions, whereby vertical loads on said sheet maintain said sheet taut, said leg portions being proportioned and arranged so that said flexible sheet is substantially horizontal when said support is unfolded and said longer leg portions are resting on the bottom of a sink and said other leg portions are resting on a drainboard at a level above the level of the bottom of the sink.

References Cited in the file of this patent r 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 158,030 Wagner Apr. 4, 1950 1,057,722 Goetz Apr. 1, 1913 1,426,160 Driver Aug. 15, 1922 20 2,495,482 Rogatz Jan. 24, 1950 2,651,353 McWain et a1. Sept. 8, 1953 

